Many people would say that Ireland is best known for Guinness, potatoes and some undeniably wonderful music. Whether it's the good old days of Enya and The Cranberries or a modern medley of Hozier and Dermot Kennedy, the Irish proficiency for creating enchanting melodies and memorable lyrics is alive and well. The future of Irish music looks safe too, as the recent emergence of some extremely exciting artists are set to carry on the torch of greatness both at home and overseas. Here are five Irish musicians you need to put on your radar immediately, if you haven’t already.
Faye O’Rourke
Formerly of Little Green Cars and now Soda Blonde’s frontwoman, Faye’s remained a consistently delightful voice in the Irish music industry over the past decade. While she may have already escaped 'up-and-coming’ territory, her star is firmly on the rise with the continued success of all that she touches. After the breakup of Little Green Cars in 2018, the band (minus frontman Stevie Appleby) rebranded as Soda Blonde and released their debut album, Small Talk, to much critical acclaim. Fresh from the success of their Irish and UK tour last year, they’ve just announced an Irish winter tour for 2022 and look set for stardom with safe hands Faye at the front. It’s worth seeing them before they disappear overseas forever to be showered with fame and fortune.
Kean Kavanagh
Portlaoise native Kean began his career in the music industry as a producer and DJ, but quickly found his feet as a force within his own right. In 2018 he dropped his debut single Coca Cola Sky, and has been going from strength to strength ever since. With support slots for Maverick Sabre and Vampire Weekend, along with appearances at Glastonbury and Electric Picnic under his belt, Kean’s shining bright as a beacon for the future of Irish music. Debut album Dog Person is an easy, toe-tapping listen and feels like the beginning of what’s set to be a consistently brilliant career for Kean Kavanagh. Watch this space.
CMAT
The gifted Dubliner has achieved a substantial amount at just 26 years of age. Building her early fan base online, it wasn’t long before Ciara was attracting the attention of RTE and BBC radio playlist-makers. Her debut album If My Wife New I’d Be Dead landed in our eardrums earlier this year and has received much deserved mass hype, with an impressive Metacritic score of 85 and topping the Irish album chart. With a worldwide tour currently underway, Ciara doesn’t need any luck for the future - she’s nailing it all on her own. Live or recorded, her enchanting voice echoes through the land both at home and abroad. Catch her live if you can.
Soak
One of Derry’s finest exports, Soak has been on the Irish music scene since 2015, releasing the stunning debut album Before We Forgot How To Dream at just 18 years of age. It deservedly won the Irish Choice Music Prize Album of the Year and set Soak on the way to stardom, showcasing their ability to write heartfelt lyrics and stunning music at such a young age. Soak even caught the attention of Jools Holland, appearing on the show to play the hauntingly beautiful Sea Creatures track to much applause. Flash forward seven years and they’ve just released album number three and announced an upcoming UK and Irish tour in October. If you like a combination of soul, folk and dreamy vocals, Soak is the playlist queue addition you need in your life.
Daithi
The Clare musician and producer has been a staple on the Irish music scene since his debut on The All Ireland Talent Show during his first year of college. His sound was a breath of fresh air in the Irish music scene, combining the fiddle with a loop pedal to reach the final of the competition, then appearing as a semi-finalist on Sky One’s Must Be The Music a year later. Flash forward to the present day and Daithi is continuing to make waves both at home and overseas, particularly due to his latest venture with Bell X1 frontman Paul Noonan, as part of a duo called House Plants. Straddling both that and a solo act, Daithi has just announced an Irish and UK tour (with a Paris date thrown in, too) to promote his upcoming album I’m Here Now. The tour kicks off midway through September and it’s wise advice to get a ticket now before it’s too late.
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